Monday, May 9, 2011

We like lists

I usually post on Sunday, but it was Mother's Day, so I gave myself the day off! I hope all of you who are moms had a wonderful and loving Mother's Day.

Lists seem to be a part of everyone's life - the shopping list, guest list, chores list - just about everything lends itself to a list. I'm going to be exploring a few lists for you paranormal writers and readers out there.

Today's list - spells your character might use if she's a witch!

Banishing spells - Banishing spells are meant to remove someone from your life, basically, but can be nuanced in several ways. A general banishing spell would basically prevent that person from being around you. Sounds easy enough, yes? There are always ways things can go wrong, of course. Banishing spells may include a binding, to prevent someone from doing magic against you or others or even themselves (The Craft has a binding spell in the movie). It could also be a cleansing spell to banish something bad from your house, your city or your workplace... or anywhere else such nuisances occur. The banishment may remove a curse or hex against you or someone you know, or keep bad luck away. It might even remove emotions - love, hate, despair or fear. Pretty handy to have around, don't you think?

Truth spells - Truth spells can be fun .. .and dangerous! You could cast a spell to learn the truth, to get someone else to speak the truth (whether they want to or not), to gain trust or find out if your significant other is cheating. But remember, sometimes - you can't handle the truth! - or sometimes you learn things you'd rather not know (like what someone else has been doing in your shower). But again, it's a good thing to know what the truth is about some things, so playing with a truth spell can be fun, but also funny.

Bad luck spells - Another fun one - you could give someone bad luck (just make sure it doesn't bite you back), change your own luck or protect yourself from evil. All part of bad luck and the bad things that can happen because of it. Bad luck spells are often considered curses or hexes, and they say you get back what you send out, times three, so be careful about these, because they can cause all kinds of problems down the road.

Love spells - Everyone's favorite is the love spell, where you can make someone fall in love with you, or fall in love with someone else, or even fall out of love with you or someone else. These are matters of the heart, though, so caution is advised. You can enchant or obsess anyone and cause the most delightful - or hateful - chaos around you. Sometimes it might be fun to watch, but playing with the heart is always a challenge. Make sure you're not the one getting hurt.

Lastly, there are Weather spells, meant to keep Mother Nature at your command. Of course, like the heart, Mama Nature isn't always pleased to be at your command - watch your back of you may find yourself with only your striped socks sticking out from under a house somewhere.

Anyway, today's list is meant to enlighten - and warn - you, all to promote your reading and writing pleasure.

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